Direction indicator



Nov. 7, 1933- K. CHIBA DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Jan. 24, 1931 3 SheetsSheet l -II VVEN TOR KAMEK/CH/ CH/BA ATTORNEYS Ndv. 7, 1933.

K CHIBA DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Jan. 24, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR KAMEK/cH/ CH/BA BY A . A TTORNE'YS Nov. 7, 1933. K. CHIBA DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Jan. 24, 1931 3 SheetsSheet 3 j wi m on \m MMWHHK mm I m Wt \m \\gm m w H i M 6%. N

IN VEN TOR KAMEKI'CHI CH/BA ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES DIRECTION INDICATOR Kamekichj Chiba, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Application January 24, 1931. Serial No. 510,992

'4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in direction indicators which are particularly adapted for use on motor vehicles.

The objects of the invention are to provide means whereby a desired signal to right or left may be displayed by the pressing of a button and that such signal shall remain in position of display until the turn indicated thereby is being made by the vehicle; to permit the signal to remain in position of display during normal driving in trafiic such as when moving from one traffic laneto another or pulling away from the curb prior to making a desired turn; to provide means for withdrawing the signal from display at any time that the driver determines not to make the turn indicated. Further objects will appear as the description proceeds. I

The invention consists essentially of a mechanism adapted to be operated by an electric motor for displaying a given signal and for with drawing said-signal in response to a major turning movement of the steering wheel of the vehicle to which the device is fitted, as will be more fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the mechanism in normal position of rest.

Fig. 2 is a fractional elevation showingthe plunger extended or in signal display position.

' Fig. 3 is a general view showing the operating mechanism and its association with the gear of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

steering .35 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. I Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Fig. 8 is a fractional plan View of the outer end of the plunger and the automatic motor switch.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the plunger latch.

' Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.-

Fig. 11 is a similar View sliowing'the parts in a different position.

Fig. 12 is a fractionated view of the preferred .50 signalling element.

which is also fitted with a spider 11 having three crank pins 12. Slidably mounted in the standards a and 5 is a square plunger 13 having at its inner end a circular plate 14 which is attached ;to one end of a bellows 15,'the opposite end of 1 said bellows being secured to the transverse end plate 3. Intermediate the length of the plunger is a spring raised latch 16 which normally projects above the upper surface of the plunger and serves to hold it in its forward position as in 7 Figure 2, against a tension spring 17 attached to its outer end.

A connecting rod 18 having a latch 19 at its free end to be engaged by the crank pins 12 p is connected to a pin 20 extending from the plunger and passing through a slot 21 in the connecting rod. A switch 22 consisting of two blades 23 is suitably insulated and separately carried upon the end of the plunger and the adjacent end of the connecting rod 18, the blades 23 of the switch are held apart by a tension spring 24 extending between the pin 20 and an eye 25 upon the connecting rod 18. The spring 24 is much weaker than the spring 17 so that when the latch 19 of the connecting rod 18 is engaged by one of the crank pins 12 as the shaft 10 is rotating the connecting rod will be so drawn as to dispose the pin 20 at the opposite end of the slot 21, closing the switch 22 and imparting inward movement to the plunger 13, simultaneously compressing the bellows 15.

Slidably mounted upon the base 2 is a longitudinally disposed rod 26 which is actuated by a pull rod 27, see Figure 3, connected with the arm 28 of the steering column 29 or other suitable part of the steering gear of the vehicle. A medial portion of the rod 26 is cut away to form a gap 30 with inclined approaches 31,'which gap is adapted to be disposed substantially in the positicn shown in Figure 1, when the steering gear is set to direct the vehicle on a substantially straight course.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement parallel to the standard 5 are two plates 32 and 33. The plate 32 is normally supported with its lower extremity at a higher point than that of the plate 33 as shown in Figure 10 by a dog 34 extending from the lower end of a lever 35. The lever is spring tensioned as at 36 to urgethe H dog 34 into engagement with the aperture 37 of the plate 32 andis adapted to be engaged at its upper end by a projection 38 upon the plunger 13 as said plunger is carried to the end of its'inward stroke to disengage the dog from the plate 32. I

The plate 32 is urged in a downward direction by a spring 39 and is forked at its upper end as at 40 to accommodate the plunger 13, theupper end of the fork supporting a hinged stop 41 which is rearwardly urged by a spring 42 and is provided 120 with an upward extension 43 of insulating material, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The plate 33 is provided with an elongated slot 44 through which the plunger passes, which slot is of such length as to allow the plate to move vertically until its lower extremity is raised to the upper level of the rod 26 as shown in Figure 11 or lowered substantially into the gap 30 as shown in Figure 10. A spring 45 is provided for the purpose of urging the plate 33 downwardly onto the surface of the rod 26 and into its gap 30. Suitably supported upon an insulator 46 are two spring contact leaf switches respectively numbered 47 and 48 which are spaced apart and are adapted to be alternately closed and opened by the extension 43 of the stop 41, the switch 47 being closed when the device is in normal position or not operating.

Extending from one side of the plate 32 is a projection 49 which is adapted to be engaged by a bell crank 50, see Figure 3, connected through any suitable train of rods and other devices to a foot pedal 51 projecting through the floor of the car, which pedal on being pressed swings the bell crank 50 and raises the plate 32 and through the dog 34 also raises the plate 33 to such a position that the latch 16 may pass with the plunger outwardly through the slot 44 on its return stroke after operation.

Mounted within the bellows 15 and upon the transverse plate 3 is a vertical rocking shaft 52 which is urged in either direction after passing a .dead centre by a spring 53, see Figures 1, 5 and 7,

this shaft carries a pair of oppositely disposed flap valves 54 and 54A, an armature 55 and a pair of contacts 56 and 56A which are adapted to close onto insulated contacts to switches 57 and 57A respectively. The flap valves 54 and 54A are adapted to close orifices 58 and 58A respectively which communicate with signals 59 and 60 respectively. A pair of magnets 61 and 61A are disposed on opposite sides of the armature 55 which when selectively energized draw the armature to close either of the switches 57 or 57A and to close the corresponding orifice 58 or 58A to prevent the egress of air compressed and open the opposite orifice to permit the flow of air to the signal 59 or 60 which it is desired to operate.

The preferred signal shown consists of a pair of angularly disposed containers 62 each having a hinged closure 63 which is adapted to close by gravity and an inflatable signalling element 64 such as a translucent rubber glove which is capable of being projected beyond the confines of the container as air from the bellows is forced into it and withdrawn from the container as the bellows is expanded. Fitted within each container is an electric light bulb 65. Air is admitted to and withdrawn from the signals through a tube 66 extending from the orifice 58 to the sig- 119.1 60 and through a tube 6'7 from the orifice 58A to the signal 59.

The control of the device is through two push button switches respectively indicated by the numerals 68 and 69 each of which has a terminal '70 leading to a battery and contacts '71 and 72 leading respectively to the motor circuit and the circuits to the magnets 61 and 61A. The contacts '71 of the switches 68 and 69 lead directly through the normally closed switch 4'? to the motor, along a lead wire 73, so that as soon as either switch is closed the current flows to the motor which causes one of the crank pins 12 of the spider 11 to engage the latch 19 of the connesting rod 16 and move it inwardly, the initial movement of the connecting rod being made against the action of the spring 24 closes the normally open switch 22 at the outer end of the plunger 13 and through a lead 74 closes a motor circuit direct from the battery. As soon as the slack due to the length of the slot 21 in the connecting rod is taken up the plunger starts its forward movement to collapse the bellows 15. The switches 68 and 69 will preferably be placed side by side in front of the driver of the vehicle, the former to the left of the latter and to be so connected that the switch 68 controls the signal 59 indicating a turn to the left and the switch 69 controlling the signal 60 indicating a turn to the right.

Assuming the vehicle fitted with the device is parked at the right hand side of a road at a distance from an intersection at which a left turn is to be made, and assuming also that the steering wheels are set to turn sharply to the left to clear a car ahead, the rod 26 will be. so disposed th. the gap 30 will be disposed on the inner side of the transverse standard 5 and the base of the plate 33 will be resting upon the upper surface of the rod. Now if the button of the switch 68 is pressed the motor circuit will close as previously described and a circuit will also be closed leading from the contact '72 of said switch to the 61, thus energizing it and drawing the armature 55 over to rock the shaft 52, close the orifice with the flap valve and close the switch 56.

If driving at night it will obviously follow that lamps of the vehicle controlled by the switch H L in the diagram will be illuminated consequently the current from the battery flowing through this switch will also flow along the lead wire 75 and the switch 48 (which is closed as the plunger reaches the end of its inward stroke) through the bulb 65 in the signal 59 and the closed switch 56 to ground. During the inward movement of the plunger and when at rest at the inward end of its stroke air from the bellows will be transferred to inflate the element 64 of the left hand signal 59 and will maintain it in extended position of display, the air flow from the bellows being through the open orifice 58A and the tube 67. As the plunger approaches the inward end of its stroke the projection 38 engages the lever 3.5 which withdraws the dog 34 from the aperture 3'7 in the plate 32, thus allowing this plate to drop until the lower end of the hinged stop 41 engages the upper surface of the plunger 13 and during the final inward movement of the plunger the latch 16 passes under the stop and rises so as to engage the rear side of the stop as soon as the crank pin 12 disengages itself from the latch 19 of the connecting rod 18 and the plunger is initially drawn in an outward direction by the spring 17. This initial outward movement is sufficient to cause the hinged stop to swing against its spring 42 and to so move the insulated projection 43 to open the switch 47 in the motor circuit and close the switch 48 in the signal bulb circuit, thus stopping the motor and leaving one of the signal bulbs 65 illuminated. It will be obvious from the wiring diagram and the above description that sustained pressure upon either of the push button switches 68 or 69 is not necessary and that the display of a signalling element and the illumination of its electrio light bulb will continue until the plunger 13 returns to its normal position.

The driver now starts his car from the curb and enters the traffic lane where slight deviations from a straight line are usually made, as the vehicle enters the trafiic lane the set of the steering wheels is changed and consequently the rod 26 is moved until the'gap 30 is below the plate 33. As this occurs the plate 33 drops to the position shown in Figure 10 when the dog 34, under the influence of the spring 36 re-engages the plate 32, incidentally the initial outward movement of the plunger 13 disposes its side projection 38 in the position shown in dotted line in Figure 10, where it is out of contact with the free end of the lever 35, leaving it free to swing as desired.

When the steering gear is next turned to a substantial extent to make the desired left turn at the street intersection the rod 26 is drawn through its connecting rod 27 and the steering arm 28 until one of the inclines 31 engages the lower end of the plate 33 and raises it and the plate 32, such action lifting the lower end of the hinged stop 41 from the end of the latch 16 and allowing the said latchto pass through the plate as the spring 17 withdraws the plunger to nor mal position. The disengagement of the stop from the latch causes the switch 48 to be opened to break the light circuit, and closes the switch 47 to the push button switch motor circuit. The return of the plunger withdraws the connecting rod 18 to a position where its latch portion may be engaged by the next crank pin 12 of the spider 11, when the motor circuit is again closed.

It is not necessary for the wheels of the vehicle to be acutely turned as to direction to put the device in operation, if for instance the vehicle is directed in a straight path, the gap 30 in the rod 26 will be disposed directly below the plates 32 and 33 which will consequently drop somewhat lower than that previously described.

If the driver should have indicated a turn which he ultimately decides not to make, he places his foot on the pedal 51, thus rocking the bellcrank 50 to raise the plates 32 and 33 as before described and permit the spring 17' to withdraw the plunger 13.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a direction indicator for motor cars having a pair of signalling elements adapted to be projected into display position by air pressure, a bellows having a head fitted with an endwise slidable rod, a latch rod pivotally connected to' the sliding rod, a motor, a train of gears and a spider having a plurality of crank pins adapted to progressively engage the latch rod as the spider is rotated to impart movement to the rods and compress the bellows in response to the closing of either of a pair of switches, a circuit and an electric bulb for illuminating each element when in position of display, electromagnetic means controllable by said switches for selectively closing the illuminating circuits and controlling the flow of air to the elements to project them into display position.

2. In a direction indicator for motor cars having a pair of switches a pair of signalling elements adapted to be selectively displayed by air pressure in response to the actuation of one of the pair of switches and to be withdrawn from display by suction, a pump having an operating rod, a motor and a circuit therefor including a normally closed switch, said circuit adapted to be closed by either of said display selecting switches, a second circuit to the motorincluding a normally open switch, driving means between the motor and the operating rod for moving the rod through its compression stroke for closing the normally open switch on its initial movement and for opening the normally closed switch on the final movement of its compression stroke, a spring for moving the operating rod throughout its suction stroke and a latch adapted to hold the rod at the end of its compression stroke, and means operable in response to the turning movement of the car for releasing the latch whereby the spring returns the rod, said pump having a tube communicating with each of the signalling elements, a port to each tube, a valve to each port and a pair of electromagnets each operable in response to the closing of one of the display selecting switches for closing the port to one of the signalling elements.

3. In a direction indicator for motor cars having a pair of signalling elements adapted to be selectively displayed by air pressure and withdrawn from display by suction, a switch for selecting each element to be displayed, a pump having a reciprocable rod adapted to produce pressure as the rod is moved in one direction and to exert a suction as it is moved in the other direction, a motor for moving the rod in one direction in response to the closing of either element selecting switch, the drive between the motor and the rod including a connecting rod hingedly connected at one end to the reciprocable rod and having a latch at its opposite end, and a rotatable spider having a plurality of crank pins and driven by a gear train from the motor adapted on rotation to engage the latch of the connecting rod to draw it endwise during a predetermined peripheral travel of said spider, a motor circuit including a manually operable switch for starting. the motor and a normally closed switch, a further motor circuit including a normally open SWlltCh, means operable in re sponse to the initial running of the motor to close the normally open switch, and means as the rod reaches the end of its stroke for opening the normally closed switch, and means for returning the rod.

4. In a direction indicator for motor cars having a pair of signalling elements adapted to be selectively displayed by air pressure and withdrawn by suction, a switch for selecting each of the elements to be displayed, a pump having a reciprocable rod adapted to produce pressure as the rod is moved in one direction and to exert a suction as it is moved in the other direction, a connecting rod pivotally connected to said reciprocable rod, a motor and a rotatable spider having a plurality of crank pins, and means for imparting movement to the spider from the motor, the crank pins of said spider being adapted to engage the connecting rod and move it throughout one stroke and then to disengage said rod, a motor circuit including a manually operable switch for starting the motor and a normally closed switch, a further motor circuit including a normally open switch, means operable in response to the initial running of the motor to closethe normally open switch, means as the rod reaches the end of its stroke for opening the normally closed switch, means for returning the rod, said means being so arranged as to permit a minor turning movement of the car in either direction while maintaining the element in displayed position.

KAMEKICHI CHIBA. 

